Sock having a bulky knit cuff



O. W. HOLDER Nov. 3, 1964 L.. W n/1 g n @am www www Mm M.

EN R.

OTl W. HOLDER.

ATOF/VEYS Nov. 3, 1964 o. w. HQLDER 3,154,933

socx HAVING A BuLxY KNIT cuFF Filed April 2e, 1962 2 sn eeee snee*L 2INVENTOR' one W. Homme ATTORNEYS United States Patent O "ice 3,154,933SOCK HAVENG A BULKY KNlT @UFF Otis W. Holder, Mount Airy, NZ., assignerto Patent- Hose Corporation, Burlington, NE., a corporation of NorthCaroiina Filed Apr. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 3190,286 14 Ciairns. (Cl. 66-l72)This invention relates generally to an improved sock of the half-hose oranklet type having a bulky knit top or cuff and to the method ofknitting the same. More particularly, the present invention relates toan improved seamless sock of the type described which includes arelatively heavy gauge, bulky knit Vtop or cuff having an attractive4and ornamen-t mock rib appearance and an integrally knit relativelyfine gauge foot.

In recent years there has been a steadily increasing demand for sockshaving a bulky or coarse knit cuff of the type commonly known as bobbysocks. ln order to produce a bulky or coarse knit cuff, it is the usualpractice to utilize a circular knitting machine having a relatively fewspaced apart needles and means to feed to heavy yarn to the needles toknit elongated or loose stitches and form the bulky cuff. In most cases,an elastic yarn is inlaid in the fabric to give it a heavy ribbedappearance. Then, when the adjacent plain knit leg and foot portions areknit integral with the cuff, the size of the yarn is usually reduced andthe knit stitches are of normal size. This produces a fabric which hasan open mesh appearance and it is uncomfortable on the foot.

In attempting .to overcome the objections to open mesh fabric in thefoot of this type sock, some hoisery manufacturers have knit sockshaving heavy or coarse gauge mock rib tops and a fine gauge foot byutilizing only selected ones of the needles during the knitting of thetop and then bringing all of the needles into action during the knittingof the foot. ln all known instances, the bobby socks thus produced havebeen unsatisfactory in that they have eyelets or openings where theinactive needles are first brought into action to knit at the junctureof the heavy gauge cuit` and the fine gauge foot.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a sock which has a coarse gauge or bulky knit topor cuff and an integrally knit fine gauge foot portion which is smoothlyjoined to the cuff with no objectional eyelets or openings along thejuncture of the cuff with the foot portion.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a sock of theytype described in which the cuif portion has a stretchable yarnincorporated therein to provide .a distinctive ribbed appearance whichmay be varied by selectively knitting a relatively heavy body yarn and arelatively light stretchable yarn in certain courses and thereby varythe appearance of the vertically extending mock ribs.

It is a more specc object of the present invention to provide a sock ofthe type described wherein the top or cuff is knit by formingalternating single courses of a pair of relatively heavy body yarnswhich are knit in plated relationship while forming intervening singlecourses of a stretchable yarn and varying the wales in which these yarnsare knit, then knitting a foot portion having a greater number of walesthan the cud while separating the two body yarns of the cuff Ito knitonly one of these yarns in the wales to be added in the knitting of thefoot portion and prevent eyelets from being formed in these wales.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in whichld Patented Nov. 3, 1964 FIGURE l isa side elevation of one form of bobby sock kin't in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevational view of thatportion of the fabric enclosed by the dash-dot rectangle 2 in FIGURE l`and illustrating the appearance of the knit stitch loops with thefabric stretched;

FlGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE l except showing a bobby sockhaving a top or cuff of modified construction; and

FlGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary elevation@ View of thatportion of the fabric enclosed by the dash-dot rectangle 4 in FIGURE 3with the fabric stretched.

Referring to FlGURE 1, it will be noted that the sock S includes a bulkyknit, rnock rib top or cuff 36 and an integrally knit foot portionbroadly indicated at 3l. The foot portion 3l includes circular legcourses 32, a heel pocket 33, a toe pocket 34, and an instep portion 35connecting the heel pocket 3'3 and the toe pocket 34. As is evident inFIGURE l, the cuff 3@ has a plurality of vertical or walewisealternating large stitch ribs 36 and ya plurality of intervening mediumstitch ribs 37. A stretchable yarn is incorporated in the knit fabric ofthe cuff Btl to draw together the ribs 36 and 37, in a manner to belater described. The sock S can be worn with the cuff or top portion Stistraight up on the leg or it may be folded or rolled down, as desired.It is to be understood that the cuff portion Sil may lbe any desiredlength and the plain knit leg courses 32 may also be any desired lengthor they may be omitted and the cuff 30 would movable needles and a pairof knitting stations, however,l

it is to be understood that the sock could also be knit on other typesof knitting machines which are normally adapted to knit plain fabric. Asshown in FIGURE 2, this portion of the fabric of the cuff 30 includescourses C-lil through C-l and wales W-Zt) through W-@ and stitch loopsare not formed in the wales W-23 and We27 of the cuff 3ft. A portion ofthe fabric of the leg courses 32 is shown in courses C-lS and C-19 inwhich stitch loops are formed in every wale.

In the cuff 30, the courses C-ltl and C-14 are formed of a pair of bodyyarns 40a and 40h which are knit in plated relationship with each otherto form stitch loops in all of the wales except W-ZS and W-Z'l'. Thecourse C-lZ is formed of both body yarns to form stitch loops in all ofthe wales except wales JV-23, W-ZS and W-27. In the formation of courseC-ld, the yarns 49a and 46h are separated and a stitch loop is formed inWales W-23 and W-2'7 of the yarn 40a and these stitch loops are joinedto the stitch loops of the first course C-l of the leg courses 32. Asthe stitch loops are formed of 4the yarn 40a, the yarn 4011 oats acrossthe wales W-23 and W-Z and this separation of the body yarns 40a and 40hprevents the formation of eyelets or openings in the fabric, in a mannerto be later described. The intervening courses C-ll, C-l3, C45 and C-l7of the cuff 30 are knit of a strand of stretchable or elastic yarn 4l.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the alternate ribs 36 are formed by hold or drawstitch loops, as shown in Wale W-Z which extend over four courses whilethe intervening ribs 37 are formed by hold or draw stitch loops, asshown in wales W-Zl and Vif-29, which extend over two courses. While thebody yarn stitch loops in wales W-Ztl, W-22, W-Zi, W-Zo, W-ZS and W-Stlof the cuff 30 are shown as being of substantially the same size as thenormal size stitch loops of the leg courses 32, it is preferred thatthey be somewhat larger in order to allow the cuff 30 to stretch and togive the cuff a more bulky knit appearance. The stretchable yarn stitchloops of the cud courses contract when the fabric is relaxed so that thebody yarn stitch loops in alternate courses appear to be connectedtogether. It will be noted that the stretchable yarn 41 forms stitchloops in wales W-Z, W-22, JV-24, 'lV-26, Vif-28 and W-Stl While it isfloated behind the long draw stitch loops in Wale W-ZS and the mediumdraw stitch loops in wales W-Zl and 'yV-29 and it also oats across walesW-23 and W-Zl.

The body yarns 40a and 10b are floated behind the long draw stitch loopsin wale W-ZS and in courses C-ll; and C-16. It is to be understood thatthe fragmentary portion of the fabric shown in FGURE 2 is repeatedcompletely around the cuff 3d and may be repeated coursewise as manytimes as desired to form any desired length of cud 30. For example, onerepeat of the fabric of the cuff 30 includes the stitch loops found inthe six wales W-Zl, W41, W-ZZ and W-Zt, W-ZS, JV-26 of the four coursesC40, C-ll, C-12 and C-l3.

When the fabric shown in FIGURE 2 is knit on a circular knittingmachine, the long draw stitch loops of the ribs 36 are formed by holdingthe body yarn stitch loops on certain of the needles for a plurality ofcourses before again knitting on these needles. As shown in FIGURE 2,draw stitch loops are formed of the body yarns in courses C-lil and C-liof Wale JV-25 to thereby form long stitch loops in ribs 36 which extendover four courses. While the long body yarn draw stitches are formed onthe needle which knits the Wale W-ZS, the needles which form theadjacent wales W-Zf and W-Zo, form normal body yarn stitch loops inalternate courses C40, C-12, (2-14 and C-ld and these needles formnormal stretchable yarn stitch loops in intervening courses C-ll, C-lS,C45 and fl-17.

The medium draw stitch loops of the ribs 3'7 are formed in wales W-2land W-Zi (FIGURE 2) by holding the body yarn stitch loops on theseneedles while the stretchable yarn courses are being knit. The needlesvwhich form the body yarn stitch loops in the Wales adjacent the WalesW-2l and Vil-29 knit in each course and alternately form normal stitchloops of the body yarns and the stretchable yarns. Thus, in the fabricforming the cuhL 349, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, in certain spacedcourses the pair of body yarns 40a and dtlb are knit by every activeneedle, such as in courses C-ll and C-ld, while in other courses, suchas course C-lZ, the body yarns #lila and tb are knit by certain activeneedles and are not knit by other needles, such as the needle in waleift/25. During the knitting of the cuff 30, the needles corresponding tothe wales Vil-23 and W-27 are never active so that both yarns merelyfloat across these wales. The stretchable yarn 41 is knit by certainactive needles in every intervening course and is not knit by the activeneedles which form the wales W-Zl, W-ZS and JV-29.

Since no stitch loops are formed in the wales W-ZS and W-2'7 during theknitting of the cu portion 3l? and then stitch loops are formed in thesewales during the knitting of the foot portion 3i, the cuff portion 3!has a lesser number of knit wales than the foot portion 3d.. In order toprevent the formation of openings or eyelets when the new wales areadded in the foot portion 31, the yarns 40a and 40h are separated duringthe knitting of the penultimate course C-lo of the cud portion 30 andthe yarn 40a forms a stitch loop in wales Vif-23 and V27-27 while theyarn lflb floats across these wales. In the knitting of the next orjuncture course C-l, the stretchable yarn di forms stitch loops in thewales adjacent opposite sides of the Wales W-23 and W-27 and floatsacross these wales IV-23 and VV-2.7. The stitch loops formed of the bodyyarn 46a in wales W-Z and W-Z tie together the courses C-ld and C-lSWhile the floats of the stretchable yarn 4l in the wales W-25 and W-Z ofcourse C-17 pull together the stitch loops of adjacent wales. Thus, thestitch loops of the body yarn 40a and the floats of the stretchable yarn41 prevent eyelets or d openings from being formed/in the fabric at thejuncture of the cuff 30 and the foot 31.

While the sock S may be knit on several different types of machines, itis preferred that the sock S be knit on a circular independent needleknitting machine having a pair of knitting stations and the method ofknitting the fabric on this type of machine will be described. Asatisfactory bobby sock has been knit on this type of circular machinehaving a total of 88 needles in the cylinder with 66 of the needlesbeing active during the knitting of the cuff 39 and all 88 needles beingactive during the knitting of the foot portion 31. In the knitting of'the cuff portion 30, it is preferred that the needles be active in whatmay be termed a three-by-one arrangement wherein three consecutiveneedles are active and single needles between the groups of activeneedles remain inactive during the knitting of the cuff 30. It ispreferred that the body yarns lilla and 4Gb be fed at what may be termedthe main feeding and knitting station and the stretchable yarn 41 be fedat what may be termed the auxiliary feeding and knitting station. Also,the yarns da and Mib should be fed at different levels to facilitateseparating the saine during the last course of the cuff and just priorto starting the knitting of the foot portion 3l on all of the needles.

The sock S is preferably knit from the top of the curi 3S to the toepocket 3d and any desired type of make-up or selvage may be formed tostart knitting of the cuff portion 3d. All of the courses of the upperportion of the cuff fail are repeats of courses C-lll through C-l and,therefore, the knitting of these four courses will be described.

in knitting the course C-lt), both body yarns 4de and are fed to all ofthe active needles at the main feeding station and then all of theseneedles immediately forni stitch loops of both yarns in platedrelationship at the main knitting station. As the needle cylinderrevolves, the needles in wales 2V-2d, W-ZZ, W-24, W-Zd, d -Ztl andlV-Sii are raised at the auxiliary knitting station to a sud ient levelto clear the stitches below the latches thereof and take theptretchableyarn 41 in their hooks. Then, the needles are lowered to stitch drawinglevel to form normal stitch loops in wales W-Ztl, W-22, 7J-,'54, iN-26,W-2S and W-Eell of course C-ll. The needles in Wales W-Zl, iV-23, W-ES,W-Zl and W-29 are not raised high enough at the auxiliary knittingstation to receive the stretchable yarn di and this yarn is floatedacross the Wales W-25 and W-27 and behind the body yarn draw stitchloops in wales W-21, W-' and t/ 29. The stretchable yarn di is knit inpartially stretched condition and when vthe fabric is relaxed, it isdrawn in both coursewise and walewise directions. This contraction ofthe fabric causes the znock ribs to appear on the outer face of thefabric.

With continued rotation of the needle cylinder, the needles form bodyyarn stitch loops at the main knitting station in wales W-Zti, W-21,W-ZZ, W-24, W-26, W-Zi, W-ZS? and .l/343 of course C-12. Then, theneedles form stretchable yarn stitch loops at the auxiliary knittingstation in wales W-Ztl, W-21, W-22, W- 24, W-26, W-Z, W-29 and W-30 ofcourse C13.

The courses C id, C-i, C-16 and C-17 are formed in the same manner asthe corresponding courses C-lll, C-ll, C-l?, and C-l, however, duringthe knitting of course 16, the needles in wales W-23 and W-27 arebrought into action. The needles in wales W-23 and W-27 are rst broughtinto action at the main knitting station and they are raised high enoughto take and knit only the body yarn 40a, the body yarn 4Gb being fed ata higher elevation than the yarn 40a. The body yarn All!) thus floatsacross the wales W-23 and W-27 in course C-l and the needles in theseWales W43 and W-2'7 do not knit at the auxiliary knitting station whenthe course C-l? is formed. Then, all of the needles are raised to takeboth body yarns 40a and 4011 at the rnain knitting station to form thecourse C-IS.

The courses C-IS and C-19 and the remaining courses of the foot portion31 are formed at the main knitting station by feeding both of the bodyyarns 46a and 40h to all 88 neeedles, however, they may be formed byfeeding a single strand of yarn to the needles, if desired. Also, it maybe desirable to continue to feed the stretchable yarn to alternateneedles at the auxiliary knitting station while feeding the body yarn toall of the needles` at the main knitting station for a few courses aftercompleting the course C-17. Any desired type of stretchable ornon-stretchable body yarn may be used and, if it is desirable to havethe sock to t a wide range of foot sizes, the plain stitches in the footcourses may be formed of stretchable yarns or combinations ofstretchable and non-stretchable yarns.

The modified form of sock shown in FIGURE 3 and the fabric shown inFIGURE 4 are very similar to the corresponding sock and fabric shown inFIGURES l and 2 and, therefore, the parts of the sock and fabric shownin FIGURES 3 and 4 which correspond to similar parts of the sock andfabric shown in FIGURES l and 2 will bear the same reference characterswith the prime notation added. Comparing FIGURES l and 3, it will benoted that the cui 30 has vertically extending alternating mock ribs 36which are formed of abnormally long draw stitches and intervening mockribs 37 which are formed of medium length draw stitches While all of themock ribs 36" of the cuff Sil are formed of abnormally long drawstitches. The difference in stitch structure is more apparent whencomparing the fabrics shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. In these iigures, it isclear that the main difference lies in the fact that in FIGURE 4 theabnormally long draw stitch loops, which extend over four courses, arepositioned in every mock rib 36', such as the Wales W-ZI, `W-LS andW-Z'. On the other hand, in FIGURE 2, mock ribs 36 which are formed ofthe abnormally long draw stitches, which extend over four courses,alternate with the mock ribs 37 which are formed of the medium lengthdraw stitches, which extend over two courses. In both forms of socks andfabrics, a heavy gauge cui is knit integral with a ne gauge foot portionand any objectionable eyelets or openings are prevented at the iunctureof the cuit portions and the foot portions in the same manner. Referringparticularly to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the cuit fabric 30'includes spaced courses C-Itl and C-le which contain stitch loops formedor" body yarns 40a' and 49h knit in plated relationship in every activeWale and courses C-IZ and C-16 in which the body yarns are knit inselected wales, such as the wales W-Z), JV-22, W424i', W-Z, W-ZS andJV-36. The abnormally long draw stitches, which extend over fourcourses, to form the mock ribs 35' are positioned in wales W-Z, W-ZS andVV-29. It will also be noted that intervening courses C-II, C43, C-ISand C-I are formed of stretchable yarn 41 which is knit in selectedwales, such as wales W-i?, W-ZZ, 7V-24, W-26, W-ZS and W-Sti. In thecourse C-14, the abnormally long draw stitches in wales W-Zl, W-25 andW-Z9 are connected to stitches in these wales of the lirst course C-ldof the foot portion 3l. Also, in the course C id, the two body yarns40a' and 4Gb are separated in wales W-23 and W-27 and the yarn 40u'forms stitch loops which are connected to stitch loops in these wales ofcourse C-IS.

The knitting of the sock and fabric shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4 will bedescribed as it would be knit on a circular knitting machine having atotal of 88 needles. Buring the knitting of the cuff portion 3G only 66of the needles will be active and all 88 of the needles will be activeduring the knitting of the foot portion 3l. The circular knittingmachine is provided with two spaced apart yarn feeding and knittingstations and the body yarns 40a' and 4Gb are fed at the main knittingstation I are not raised high enough at the main knitting station totake and knit the body yarns.

During the knitting of course C-16, the body yarns 40a' and 4% areseparated and the needles in wales W-23 and VV-27 are raised high enoughto take and knit only the yarn 40a'. The single yarn stitch loops formedof the yarn 40a are connected to stitch loops formed of the body yarn inthe course C-18, which is knit on all ot the needles at the mainknitting station while the body yarn 40h is floated across ,the walesW42?, and JV-27. The courses C-ll, C-IS, C-IS and C-17 are formed or"the stretchable yarn 4I at the auxiliary knitting station by formingstitch loops on the needles in wales W-Ztl, W-22, W-24, W-26, W-Zt andW-30.

In both forms of socks shown, a relatively heavy gauge or coarse mockrib cuif is knit integrally with a line gauge plain foot portion and thecuit has an attractive ornamental and bulky appearance while the linegauge foot provides comfort to the wearer. Also, no objectionable holesor eyelets are formed when the additional wales are added at thebeginning of the fine gauge fabric of the foot portion. Y

The socks shown in both forms of the invention have the elongated drawstitches in spaced apart wales in what may be termed a two-by-onearrangement of the active needles knitting the cuff, however, it is tobe understood that the spacing between the wales containing elongateddraw stitches may be varied in any suitable manner. It desired, theknitting of the stretchable yarn in every other course and in alternatewales may be continued for several courses below the course Clt). Also,any suitable type of make-up or selvage may be knit to start theknitting of the culf and, in the present instance, several courses,preferably four courses, are knit before knitting the courses of the cuiwhich contain the elongated stitches.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferredembodiments of the invention and, although specic terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a fine gauge footportion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined numberof wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuif portion joined to said foot portion andincluding v (l) a plurality of courses having a lesser number of walesthan the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales ot said cutf portion being alined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the wales of said cuit portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuil portion being knit of bodyyarn,

(4) certain of said alternating single courses having normal stitchloops in certain wales and elongated draw stitch loops in other wales,and

(5) intervening single courses of said cuff portion being knit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain Walesand floats extending across said other wales. 2. A plain knit article ofhosiery comprising (a) a ne gauge foot portion having a plurality ofcourses each having a predetermined number ot Wales, and (b) a heavygauge rnock rib cuil portion joined to said foot portion and including(l) a plurality of courses having a lesser number of Wales than thenumber of Wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said culir portion being alined with selected Wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected Wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the wales of said cuff portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuff portion being knit of bodyyarn,

(4) certain of said alternating single courses having normal stitchloops in certain wales and elongated draw stitch loops in other wales,

(5) intervening single courses of said cuit portion eing lciit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain walesand` iloats extending across said other Wales,

(6) the normal stitch loops or" the last of said intervening coursesbeing interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the irstcourse of said foot portion, and

(7) the elongated draw stitch loops of the last of said certainalternating single courses being interknit with stitch loops in thecorresponding Wales of the iirst course of said foot portion.

3. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a tine gauge footportion having `a plurality of courses each having a predeterminednumber of Wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cud portion joined to said foot portion andincluding (l) repeated groups of courses wherein each course of eachgroup has a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in thecourse of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said cut portion being dined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected Wales of said foot portion beingout of alinernent with the Wales of said cuil portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuff portion being knit of bodyya rn,

(4) intervening single courses of said cuit portion being knit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales andoats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certainwales and elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed insaid other Wales, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat beinginterknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the firstcourse of said foot portion` 4. A plain knit article of hosierycomprising (a) a tine gauge toot portion having a plurality of courseseach having a predetermined number of Wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuil portion joined to said foot portion andincluding (l) repeated groups of courses wherein each course of eachgroup has a` lesser number of Wales than the number of wales in thecourses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said cuff portion being aiined with selected Wales ofsaid foot portion and the nonselected Wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the Wales of said cuff portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuil portion being knit of bodyyarn,

(4) intervening single courses of said cuff portion being knit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales andoats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certainwales, a single elongated draw stitch loop of said body yarn beingformed in alternate ones of said other wales in each repeat and a pairof elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed inintervening ones of said other Wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat beinginterknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the firstcourse of said foot portion.

5 A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a tine gauge footportion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined numberof wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuff portion joined to said foot portion andincluding (l) repeated groups of courses wherein each course of eachgroup has a lesser number of wales than the number of Wales in thecourses of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said cuit portion being alined with selected Wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion beingout of alinernent with lthe Wales of said cuil portion, Y

(3) alternating single courses of said cuff portion being knit of bodyyarn,

(4) intervening single courses of said cuil portion being knit'of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales andfloats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certainwales and a single elongated dravv stitch loop of said body yarn beingformed in each of said other Wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat beinginterknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of the tirstcourse of said foot portion. 6. A plain knit article of hosierycomprising (a) a Iine gauge foot portion having a plurality of courseseach having a predetermined number of wales, and Y t (b) a heavy gaugemock rib cufrp portion joined to said oot portion and including (1)repeated groups of four successive courses wherein each course of eachgroup has a lesser number of Wales than the number of wales in thecourses of said foot portion,

(2) the Wales of said cuff portion being alined with selected Wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected Wales of said foot portion beingout of -alinement With the Wales of said cuff portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuit portion being knit of bodyyarn,

' (4) intervening single courses of said cull portion being knit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in certain Wales andoats extending across other Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certainwales and elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed insaid other Wales, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last g repeat beinginterknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the rst courseof said foot portion, 7. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a)a line gauge foot portion having a plurality of courses each having apredetermined number of wales, and (b) a heavy gauge mock rib culi:portion joined to said yfoot portion and including (l) repeated groupsof four successive courses wherein each course of each group has alesser number of wales than the number of wales in the courses of saidfoot portion,

(2) the wales of said cuil portion being alined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the nonseleoted wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the wales of said cui portion,

(3) alternating single courses being knit of body Yam,

(4) intervening single courses being knit of a stretchable yarn andhaving normal stitch loops in certain wales and floats extending acrossother wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certainWales, a single elongated draw stitch loop of said body yarn being`formed in alternate ones of said other wales in each repeat, and a pairof elongated draw stitch loops of said body yarn being formed inintervening ones of said other wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops of the last repeat beinginterknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of the firstcourse of said foot portion.

8. A plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a iine gauge footportion having a plurality of courses each having a predetermined numberof wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cuft` portion joined to said foot portion andincluding (l) repeated groups of four successive courses wherein eachcourse of each group has a lesser number of Wales than the number ofwales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said culi portion being alined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the nonselected Wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the Wales of said cui portion,

(3) alternating single courses being knit of body yarn,

(4) interventing single courses being knit of a stretchable yarn andhaving normal stitch loops in certain Wales and iioats extending acrossother Wales,

(5) normal stitch loops of said body yarn being formed in said certainwales, a single elongated draw stitch loop of said body yarn beingformed in each of said other wales in each repeat, and

(6) the last elongated draw stitch loops or the last repeat beinginterknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of the firstcourse of said foot portion.

9. A seamless plain knit article of hosiery comprising (a) a ine gaugefoot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predeterminednumber of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib cutf portion joined to said foot portion andincluding (l) a plurality of courses having a lesser number of walesthan the number of wales in the courses of said foot portion,

(2) the wales of said cuff portion being alined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the wales of said cui portion,

(3) alternating single courses of said cuic portion being knit of bodyyarns,

(4) certain of said alternating single courses having normal stitchloops in certain wales and elongated draw stitch loops in other wales,

(5) intervening single courses of said cutf portion being knit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain walesand oats extending across other Wales,

(6) the normal stitch loops of the last of said intervening coursesbeing interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding Wales of the irstcourse of said foot portion,

(7) the stitch loops in at least the last of said alternating singlecourses being knit of a pair of body yarns knit in plated relationship,and

(8) said pair of body yarns of said last alternat? ing single coursesbeing separated between certain adjacent Wales of said cutf portion andone of said body yarns being connected to the irst stitch loop in thenon-selected wales of said foot portion, the other body yarn beingoatedbe-' tween said certain adjacent Wales. l0. A seamless plain knitarticle Vof hosiery comprising (a) a fine gauge foot portion having aplurality of y courses each having a predetermined number of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mockrib cuff portion joined to said l out of alinementwith the Wales of said cuit portion, (3) alternating single courses ofsaid culi? portion being knit of a pair of body yarns knit in platedrelationship,

(4) certain of said alternating single courses having normal stitchloops in certain Wales and elongated draw stitch loops in other Wales,

(5) intervening single courses of said cuff portion being knit of astretchable yarn and having normal stitch loops in said certain walesand iloats extending across said other wales,

(6) the normal stitch loops of the last of said intervening coursesbeing interknit with stitch loops in the corresponding wales of thefirst course of said foot portion, and

(7) said pair of body yarns of the last of said alternating singlecourses being separated between certain adjacent wales of said cuffportion and one of said body yarns being connected to the first stitchloop in the non-selected wales Y of said foot portion, the other bodyyarn being floated between said certain adjacent wales. 11. A seamlessplain knit article of hosiery comprising (o) a I'ine gauge foot portionhaving a plurality of courses each having a predetermined number ofwales, and (b) a heavy gauge mock rib cutf portion joined to said footportion and having a lesser number of wales than the number of Wales inthe courses of said foot portion,

(l) the wales of said cuff portion being alined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected wales of said foot portion beingout of alinement with the wales of said cuff portion,

(2) said culi? portion having a stretchable yarn incorporated in spacedwales to draw the cul fabric together coursewise and form the mock ribstherein,

(3) a course of said cuir" portion adjacent said lt il foot portionbeing knit of apair of body yarns knit in plated relationship in thewales which are alined with the selected wales ot said foot portion, and

(4) said pair of body yarns of said adjacent course being separatedbetween certain adjacent Waies and one of said body yarns beingconnected to the Jfirst stitch loop in the non-selected wales of saidfoot portion, the other body yarn being floated between said certainadjacent wales.

i2. A seamless plain knit article of hosiery comprising (n) 4a ne gaugefoot portion having a plurality of courses each having a predeterminednumber of wales, and

(b) a heavy gauge mock rib enti portion joined to said foot portion andhaving a lesser number of wales than the number of wales in the coursesof said foot portion,

(1) the wales of said sufi portion being alined with selected wales ofsaid foot portion and the non-selected wales of said toot portion beingout of alinement with the wales of said cuff portion,

(2) aiternating single Courses of said-culi portion being knit of a bodyyarn,

(3) intervening singie courses being formed ot" a stretchable yarn knitin spaced Wales to draw the culic fabric together' coursewise and formthe i2 (cz) repeated groups of four successive courses wherein eachcourse of each group has a predetermined number of Wales and including(l) alternating single courses knit of body yarn, (2) intervening singlecourses knit of stretchable yarn, (3) certain adjacent wales of eachcourse being formed of normal stitch loops, and (4) single walespositioned between said certain adjacent Wales having a siugie elongatedbody yarn draw stitch therein with body yarn and stretchable yarn floatsextending therebehind. 14. A stretchable mock` rib stocking cuitcomprising (a) repeated groups of four successive courses each having apredetermined number of wales and including (1) alternating singlecourses knit of body yarn,

(2) intervening single courses knit of stretchable yarn,

(3) certain adjacent wales of each course being formed of normal stitchloops,

(4) certain single Wales positioned between said certain adjacent waleshaving a single elongated body yarn draw stitch therein with body yarnand stretchable yarn oats extending therebehind, and

(5) other single wales positioned between others of said certainadjacent wales having a pair of elongated body yarn draw stitchestherein.

References Sited in the iileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.24,384 Elder et al. Oct. 29, 1957 9 264,349 Shelton Sept. 12, 18821,564,790 l-iinchliilLV Dec. 8, 1925 1,992,899 Lawson et al. Feb. 26,1935 2,090,176 Katzenrnoyer May 7, 1935 2,357,506 Davis sept. 5, 1944 402,359,774 Cloutier Feb. 20, 1945 2,799,151 Elder et al. July 16, 1957

13. A STRETCHABLE MOCK RIB STOCKING CUFF COMPRISING (A) REPEATED GROUPSOF FOUR SUCCESSIVE COURSES WHEREIN EACH COURSE OF EACH GROUP HAS APREDETERMINED NUMBER OF WALES AND INCLUDING (1) ALTERNATING SINGLECOURSES KNIT OF BODY YARN, (2) INTERVENING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OFSTRETCHABLE YARN, (3) CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES OF EACH COURSE BEING FORMEDOF NORMAL STITCH LOOPS, AND (4) SINGLE WALES POSITIONED BETWEEN SAIDCERTAIN ADJACENT WALES HAVING A SINGLE ELONGATED BODY YARN DRAW STITCHTHEREIN WITH BODY YARN AND STRETCHABLE YARN FLOATS EXTENDINGTHEREBEHIND.
 14. A STRETCHABLE MOCK RIB STOCKING CUFF COMPRISING (A)REPEATED GROUPS OF FOUR SUCCESSIVE COURSES EACH HAVING A PREDETERMINEDNUMBER OF WALES AND INCLUDING (1) ALTERNATING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OFBODY YARN, (2) INTERVENING SINGLE COURSES KNIT OF STRETCHABLE YARN, (3)CERTAIN ADJACENT WALES OF EACH COURSE BEING FORMED OF NORMAL STITCHLOOPS, (4) CERTAIN SINGLE WALES POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID CERTAIN ADJACENTWALES HAVING A SINGLE ELONGATED BODY YARN DRAW STITCH THEREIN WITH BODYYARN AND STRETCHABLE YARN FLOATS EXTENDING THEREBEHIND, AND (5) OTHERSINGLE WALES POSITIONED BETWEEN OTHERS OF SAID CERTAIN ADJACENT WALESHAVING A PAIR OF ELONGATED BODY YARN DRAW STICHES THEREIN.